How to estimate your monthly energy bill
You can estimate an electric bill with one multiplication: price per kWh × kWh used. For the average U.S. home in August 2026 that was 18.16¢/kWh × 1,152 kWh, which gives the average bill of $209, based on U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) data.
What is the formula?
Bill ≈ price per kWh × kWh used. Because the price is quoted in cents, divide by one hundred to get dollars. With the August 2026 U.S. averages, 18.16¢/kWh × 1,152 kWh comes to about $209.
Where do I get my numbers?
Your usage is printed on your bill in kWh. For the price, divide your whole bill (before taxes added as separate lines) by your kWh; that all-in price is calculated the same way as EIA's averages (see how to read your electric bill). If you have no bill yet, start from your state's average on its page; nationally it was 1,152 kWh at 18.16¢/kWh in August 2026.
Does the estimate include fixed charges?
With a state average price, yes, on average: EIA's price is total residential revenue divided by kWh sold, and that revenue includes the customer charges utilities bill, so they are spread across every kWh of the 18.16¢/kWh U.S. average. With your own per-kWh rates instead, add your monthly customer charge and taxes to the result.
Why does one month mislead?
Usage swings with the seasons. The U.S. average bill was $209 in August 2026 but $158 a month averaged over the past year, and $188 in the same month a year earlier. For a yearly budget, use your own past year of bills or the past-year average shown on each state page.
How much do states differ?
A lot. The same formula gives very different results across the country:
Lowest average electric bills
| Rank | State | Bill |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wyoming | $118 |
| 2 | Washington | $120 |
| 3 | Montana | $122 |
| 4 | North Dakota | $130 |
| 5 | Oregon | $135 |
Source: EIA, August 2026. 1 = lowest average bill.
Try it with your own numbers
The electric bill calculator fills in your state's average price and usage for August 2026; replace them with the numbers on your bill for a personal estimate.
Sources
- U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), Electricity retail sales to ultimate customers, residential sector (Forms EIA-861M, EIA-861), data period August 2026
- EIA Open Data API v2, electricity/retail-sales, data period August 2026
Background reading: EIA, Electricity explained: prices and factors affecting prices; EIA, Form EIA-861 instructions (what revenue includes).
General information based on public data, not financial advice. Your own bill depends on your utility, rate plan, fixed charge, use and any taxes added to it. Spotted an error? Tell us and we will correct it publicly.